Responding to today's government announcement that there are to be 700,000 more urgent dental appointments made available in England, John Makin, head of the DDU, said:
"We welcome the announcement today about an increase in numbers of urgent dental appointments as there is a dire need to address gaps in access to NHS dentistry. However, while this may address some of the funding needs which prevent people accessing NHS care, it doesn't address some of the fundamental causes of why colleagues are stepping away from providing that care.
"The reasons for that include dental professionals being frustrated about being unable to meet patient need under the current system. Added to that is the hostile dento-legal climate in which the ever-increasing demands on dentistry have led to a corresponding rise in complaints. Dental professionals are also concerned about action by the GDC, which is working with an outdated regulatory system."
"Reforms to the clinical negligence system and a fairer, more timely and more proportionate model of regulation could help ease the burden on our dental practitioners and our NHS."
The DDU has submitted written evidence to the House of Commons public accounts committee inquiry into 'Fixing NHS Dentistry'.
The DDU has called for:
- A solution to disproportionately high legal costs for clinical negligence claims, so this money can be redirected into NHS services. The nature of dentistry means that most claims would come to less than the £25,000 threshold announced in 2023, but fixed recoverable costs in these lower value cases has yet to be introduced.
- The introduction of long promised reforms to allow the GDC to reform the creaking fitness to practise system. The most recent Professional Standards Authority (PSA) report shows that GDC fitness to practise investigations can take on average 140 weeks from beginning to completion.
- Continued funding for services such as NHS Practitioner Health to support dental professionals with health concerns.
See more about our response to the committee into fixing NHS dentistry.
This page was correct at publication on 21/02/2025. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.